Image processing device and method of image processing

Abstract

An image processing device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute obtaining image data from an imaging device in which pixel groups of multiple colors are repeatedly arranged, each of the pixel groups including multiple pixels; and determining a direction in which change in a pixel value is small at a position of a target pixel group, based on a changed amount of the pixel values of at least one of pairs of pixels that are arranged around the target pixel group, and included in multiple other pixel groups having colors that are different from a color of the target pixel group.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing device comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor configured to execute obtaining image data from an imaging device in which pixel groups of multiple colors are repeatedly arranged, each of the pixel groups including multiple pixels; and   determining a direction in which change in a pixel value is small at a position of a target pixel group, based on a changed amount of the pixel values of at least one of pairs of pixels that are arranged around the target pixel group, and included in multiple other pixel groups having colors that are different from a color of the target pixel group.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the determining determines the direction in which change in the pixel value is small, by using pixel values of pixels adjacent to the target pixel group from among the multiple other pixel groups. 
     
     
         3 . The image processing device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the determining determines the direction in which change in the pixel value is small, by further using pixel values of pixels adjacent to the pixels adjacent to the target pixel group from among the multiple other pixel groups. 
     
     
         4 . The image processing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one pair from among the pairs of pixels used for determining the direction is arranged at positions across the target pixel group. 
     
     
         5 . The image processing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the determining accumulates differences each calculated between pixel values of the pairs of pixels positioned along each of a plurality of directions, to determine a direction in which an accumulated value is small as the direction in which change in the pixel value is small. 
     
     
         6 . The image processing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the determining calculates variances of slopes of changed amounts of pixel values of the pair of pixels positioned along each of a plurality of directions, to determine a direction in which a calculated variance is small as the direction in which change in the pixel value is small. 
     
     
         7 . The image processing device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of directions include an arrangement direction of pixels, a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction, a diagonal direction of the arrangement direction, and a direction orthogonal to the diagonal direction. 
     
     
         8 . The image processing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute replacing, based on the direction determined by the determining, at least one of pixels of the target pixel group with a pixel value of a pixel in another color, so as to convert the image data obtained by the imaging device to image data having a pixel arrangement that is different from a pixel arrangement of the imaging device. 
     
     
         9 . The image processing device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the replacing converts the image data of a Quad Bayer Coding (QBC) arrangement obtained by the imaging device to the image data of a Bayer arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . The image processing device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the determining determines the direction in which change in the pixel value is small at a position of a target red pixel group or a target blue pixel group, based on a changed amount of pixel values of at least one pair of the pairs of pixels included in a green pixel group positioned around the target red pixel group or the target blue pixel group. 
     
     
         11 . The image processing device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the determining determines the direction in which change in the pixel value is small at a position of a target red pixel group or a target blue pixel group, based on pixel values of a plurality of green pixel groups arranged around the target red pixel group or the target blue pixel group. 
     
     
         12 . A method of image processing executed by an image processing device including a memory and a processor, the method comprising:
 obtaining image data from an imaging device in which pixel groups of multiple colors are repeatedly arranged, each of the pixel groups including multiple pixels; and   determining a direction in which change in a pixel value is small at a position of a target pixel group, based on a changed amount of the pixel values of at least one of pairs of pixels that are arranged around the target pixel group, and included in multiple other pixel groups having colors that are different from a color of the target pixel group.